On-line anti-discrimination platform in BiH launched

02.06.2017.

Supported by the EU, citizens of BiH have a new tool for combating discrimination at their disposal – the application via internet platform www.prijavi-diskriminaciju.ba is directly forwarded to the competent institutions

Since 2009, the right to equal treatment is guaranteed by the Law on Prohibition of Discrimination in BiH, and as of today, all those who testify or are victims of discrimination, can report it in a simple, fast and secure manner. The Internet Platform for Reporting Discrimination, presented today in Sarajevo, is an online mechanism for reporting cases of discrimination to the relevant institutions in BiH. The website www.prijavi-diskriminaciju.ba also provides insight into the territorial representation of discrimination in BiH and provides access to important documents and contacts of relevant institutions in the field of human rights protection.

Director for Western Balkans at the European Commission’s Directorate for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Genoveva Ruiz Calavera, stated that combating discrimination and ensuring the economic empowerment of all minorities and vulnerable groups are among the most important values of the EU, and stressed her satisfaction with the fact that a lot of young people are involved in this process. “I am pleased that we can realize this kind of projects that will help citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina to report discrimination, and thus once again confirm our concrete help in the field of human rights, and not only declaratively support that process. This platform is the voice of BiH citizens and is an important step for BiH’s progress towards the EU,” indicated Calavera.

Assistant Minister for Human Rights of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Saliha Đuderija, said that reports clearly indicate where the major problems are in the area of discrimination, adding how social inclusion and support to all minorities should be much higher in local communities. “The Ministry of Human Rights will cooperate with the LYRA group and Save the Children to ensure that the platform connects with our online system, which will ease the reporting of discrimination,” she said.

Human Rights Ombudsman of BiH, Jasminka Džumhur, emphasized that the platform will enable us to communicate more with young people as active participants. They can change the situation in BiH, where discrimination against Roma population as the most numerous minority and ethnic discrimination in the field of education and employment, is currently dominant. “It is especially important that this project looks at Roma population as an actor rather than a beneficiary, which is rarely the case with projects targeting the Roma population,” concluded Džumhur.

“No state in the world is immune to discrimination, and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina are often victims or witnesses of this disease of the society. We are particularly happy that, with our help, the group of young leaders became well informed and ready to fight discrimination in their communities and across the country,” said the Director of Programmes, Save the Children in North West Balkans, Ahmed Pjano.

Denis Mujić from Tuzla is one of the active Roma leaders in his community and he helps young people. “While we are all entitled to equal treatment, those who are different from the rest of the population on any grounds – national, racial, social, sexual, and other – are often unable to exercise that right.”

The platform was created as a part of the project “Young Roma Leaders in Action – Phase II”, funded by the European Union in the amount of 200.000 EUR within the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights, conducted by Save the Children in collaboration with partners, Citizens’ Association for the Promotion of Education of Roma “Otaharin” from Bijeljina and Association Altruist from Mostar. The Platform is administered by organizations “Otaharin” and “Altruist”.